Internal-combustion power apparatus.



C. H. FOX.

INTERNAL comsusnow POWER APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1913. i I 1,217,861; Patented Feb. 27,1917.

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C. H. FOX.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION POWER ,APPARATUS.

APPLICATION flLED ocr. 2. 1913.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

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C. H. FOX. INTERNAL COMBUSTION POWER APPARATUS.

7 APPLICATION FILED OCT 7- l9l3- A Patented Feb. 27,1917.

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"CHARLES rrox, or BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA. w

INLTEIRNAL-COMBUSTION rownn armuurriis.

To all whom it may] concern: 1 v Beit. known that I, CHARLES Fox, a citizen of. the United States, "residing at Bakersfield, in the county of Kernand State of California, have invented a new and use-- ful Internal-Combustion Power Apparatus, of which the'following is a specification.

An object of-this invention isto provide means whereby the explosive power-of coin bustible fiuidslmay be produced and applied. with maximum effect to do useful Work; to effect this in the simplest, most direct and convenient manner, and toniinimize wear and tear and destructive-action.

An object of the invention is to provide maximum .fluid pressure from. minimized combustible material and to apply the same with. maximum efficiency topropel a liquid.- In carrying out this invention in the form I at present deem most practical, I propose to provide a; gang of ejector devices, each de- I vice having a passage opeiiat both ends,

and to supply across in each'of such devices an internal combustion unit, to discharge expanded gas thereinto, to connect said units with a source of fluid fuel supply undercompressionand to connect said gang of ejector deviceswith anozzle'in combination with'a 'power'wheeha body'of liquid to drive said power Wheel and means to return the liquid from the power wheel to the gang of ejector devices, thus providing"for-continuous operation of the Wheel with a liquid element the power cumulatively in a simple and driven by the expanded gases from, ternal combustion power units.

An object of this invention is to provide an internal combustion unit capable of producing a practically constant flow of -expanded gas and of being connected to and of cooperating with like units for increasing practical manner.

This invent on involves a principle of construction and operation disclosed in my co- .pending application for Letters-Patent of a dischargeiport,"a free piston element w ork. ng in said chamber and operating under the force-of successive explosions and controlling said discharge port, and valves and Application filed October 7,1913. sen'ai is; 7 3m; 7

- .ble charges.

be as free as possible.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 1917.

is for pump construction.

An object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion power apparatus which will be of very high efliciency and great power and by means of which large quantities of liquid may be driven in any desired direction forany desired purpose. I Another object of the invention is to provide means for direct application of the force of explosions to throw a stream of liquid at high velocity and which operates directly and with minimum liability of failing, said apparatus being applicable for use as a fire engine or for throwing astream to drive a Pelton wheel.

By means of this invention I produce from each internal combustion, unit a practically constant flow of expanding gases produced by successive e'xplosionsof combusti- Said flow of expanding gases is only effectigniting means controlledby said element'to specifically claimed in saidapplication which ed through a succession of explosions of i compressed combustible fluid after the manner of an ordinary internal combustion en- .gine with this exception, that in this invention the explosions are of very higli frequency and theobject in View is to carry off from the combustion chamber a maximum "amount of power producedby thecombustion or explosion and,-i n consequence of this, it becomes desirable. that the discharge of such expanding gases from each unit'shall It is also desirable that the time allowed for such expanded shall be maximized.

It is necessary, however, that the explosive charges shall be ignited. successively, and

gases to pass from the explosion chamber therefore it appears necessary that the disent times, within the chamber to separate the j c charges and to close the discharge port between the successive explosions, one of said 7 elements being practically solid, having an uninterrupted external surface, and the other having louvers on opposite sides'of a solid transverse portion which is sufiiciently long to close the discharge port as it passes the same. I

By using the louver form of free piston element, the bearing of such element on the walls of the bore or chamber of the device is increased, thus 'holdingthe free piston element true and making it run steady. The period of discharge is also thus increased over that of the shorter solid piston.

A further object is to provide for automatic starting of the free piston element.

The invention includes the complete power apparatus, a novel combined internal combustion and ejector unit and varlous parts and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully set forth. V V

The accompanying drawings lllustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a broken view partly 1n sect on and partly diagrammatic illustrating the 1nvention as applied to produce power and to apply the same to useful work through the.

medium of a Pelton Wheel.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the gang of internal combustion units and the supply .means shown in Fig. 1. Said units are shown 1n diagrammatic section from line rif -m Flgs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental view partly in section of part of a power plant designed to operate with a mixture produced from llquid hydrocarbon and compressed air.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental view on line w a;*,

Figs. 1 and 3 showing the louver form of' free piston element in central position for closing the discharge port.

Fig. 5 is a view analogous to Fig. 4 show-' ing the free piston element in the igniting position and the discharge port partly open. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view partly in section on irregular line :0, Fig. 8, further illustrating one of the internal combustion units and its injector unit on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental axial section of an internal combustion unit and injector body from line at", Figs. 8 and 9. The solid form of piston element is shown in igniting positio Fig. 8 is a view partly insection on irregular line 02 Fig. 7 of thedevice shown in Fig. 7, the free piston element being shown in an extreme position to which it might be assumed to move under momentum from a preceding explosion, or from a compressed air impulse.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section on line :0 Fig. 7. It is understood that the Pelton wheel is simply a preferred form of water wheel andthat other forms of power converters may be substituted for the Peltonwheel without departing from the broad spirit of this invention.

. comparatively packing rings.

It is also understood that the power may simply be applied to lift or drivewater as by a form of pump. I

Thebody 1 of the internal combustion ejector shown is provided with a combustion chamber 2 having discharge means as the port 3, and inlet means as the ports 4i and their valves 5, said discharge and inlet means being controlled by the movement of a free moving valve element 6 working in the chamber 2 and capable of completely closing said port momentarily. Said valves 5 are normally closed by yielding means as the springs 7 and when opened admit fluid from the supply pipes 8 to the chamber 2.

'Theelement 6 is in the nature of a free piston loosely fitting the chamber 2 and capable of moving therein from end to end thereof when unresisted; but fitting the chamber with sufficient nicety to practically close communication between the discharge port andthe inlets alternately as the piston is interposed between said discharge port and the inlets respectively in the operation of the apparatus. The free piston may be loose and does not require any It is constructed to completely, though momentarily, close the discharge port, and therefore serves to separate between each unburnt explosive charge at one end of the bore 2 and the exploding orburning charge at the other end of the bore and vice versa, and to prevent premature discharge or Waste of the combustible fluid or mixture,

such as natural gas, carbureted air or the like, and ignition of one charge by another when the ignitersiare charged with electric current.

It also serves to re-compress the explosive charges before firing, and also acts as a commutator to time the explosions and as an element of the 1gn1t1ng mechanism, bemg in effect a floating electrode in connection with the fixed electrodes or sparking points 9 which are arranged singly on opposite sides of the chamber 2 and are located near the path of the free piston element 6 which is made partly or wholly of electrical conducting material, so that as the piston approaches either end of the chamber a circuit will be established through the medium of the piston causing jump sparks at both sides of said chamber at the forward end of the novel form of ejector which will operate besecured to accommodate the liquid to be when an expansive medium is discharged through the port 3, liquid being supplied to the passage 10 externallyof the chamber 2 and opposite the port 3. U

The free piston element 6 is adapted to move across the discharge port 3 under the force of alternate explosions against its ends in opposite ends of the chamber 2 and the combustible fiuid for producing the explosions is conducted to the pipes 8 through the main 13 leading from a source of supply as an air compressor 11 by which compressed air under a pressure of forty pounds, more or less, per square inch may be produced to force the combustible fluid which may be gas,-carbureted air, or any other fluid suitable for the work, into the chamber. Said combustible fluid may be produced by compressing atmospheric air and carbureting it on its way to the combustion chamber, or it may be natural gas or other combustible fluid compressed by the compressor.

The sparking points maybe of any usual construction and the points on opposite sides of the chamber are connected by leads 15, 16 with an electrical source as the battery 17 whereby the piston 6 which may be made in whole or in part of some suitable electrical conducting material as cast steel will serve to complete the circuit and cause a jump spark at opposite sides of the forward end of the piston to ignite the charge at both sides of the combustion chamber.

The free piston may be solid or may be constructed with a solid central body 18 to form a partition between the ends of the chamber and between the inlet and the discharge, and may be provided at the outer ends on opposite sides of the partition with louver extensions 19, which serve the purpose of lightening. the piston, of advancing the spark, of allowing the exhaust to begin at an early period of the stroke and of increasing the period of the discharge.

- For the purpose of the last two functions the discharge port 3 is in the form of a slot extending lengthwise of the cylinder or chamber 2. I

It is to be noted that the functional purpose of the free piston element 6 is to allow ignition to take place .alternately at opposite ends of the chamber so that the combustible may be introduced through the Valve ports 3, the valves 5 of which will support the recoil of the explosion, thus directing the force of the explosion out from the discharge port 3.

The compressed explosive mixture from the main 13 is directed through the pipes 8 to opposite ends of the chamber 2, and the opposite open ends of the injector body 1 are provided with seats 20 into which conducting pipes or nipples as 21, 22, 23 may driven and the discharging burnt gases to drive such liquid. v

The compressed gas or other. explosive mixture is admitted through pipes 8 to the inlet chambers 24 behind the valves 5, and the valve stems 25 extend through webs 26 having projecting bosses 27, 28 on opposite sides of the webs that serve as guides for the valve stems and also serve to isolate the Valve-closing springs 7 from the explosion chamber. a I

Thesprings are held in tension between the nuts 29 and webs 26 and normally hold the valves closed when pressure is in the valve chambers 24. The pressure through the pipes 8, however, must be sufficient to overcome the force of the springs, thus to open the valves in alternation and allow the combustible fluid to flow into the appropriate combustion chamber.

Starting the apparatus into action may be effected in different ways, among which may be mentioned that of making provision for closing the valves with different pressures. That is tosay, one of thevalve springs may be slightly heavier than the other, or one of the nuts 29 may be screwed farther home than the other,- so that when the combustible fluid is turned into both pipes 8 at the same time, one of the valves 5 will yield more quickly than the other,

"thus driving the piston past the discharge port, the momentum of the piston causing it to compress and to be acted on by the explosive gas and thereby returned toward 7 initial point.

The electric circuit is provided with a switch 30 between the electric source 17 and the spark points on one side of the apparatus; and in starting theapparatus into operation the switch will be open so that no spark or ignition will occur at the outset.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that there are two combustible fluid lines 31 and 32 connected with the main 13. Said lines are provided with cut-01f valves 33, 3%, respectively, and the main line is provided with a cut-o valve 35. The pipe line 31 is more direct t ian the pipe line 32, which latter line has bends as at 36, 37, so thatcombustible fluid may flow more quickly to one end of the piston cham her 2 than to'the other end thereof. I 4

With the apparatus thus constructed, the

method of starting the same into operation may be as follows The operator may not know at which side of the discharge port the' piston may be; but, by first closing all the valves, then openthen slowly opening the. valve 35 on the main line so that pressure of the combustible fluid will be gently applied to the end of 3 ing the valve 31 on the indirect line-and line 31 will impel the piston with such force as to drive the piston 6 across and beyond the discharge port 3 and into the end of the chamber nearest the pipe line 32 where compression of the contents of such end of the chamber will result, owing to the impelling force and the momentum of the piston, thereby holding the valve at that end of the chamber closed until recoil olf the compressed aerial contents takes place and returns the piston toward the pipe line 31,

whereupon the pressure in the end of the chamber nearest line 32 will be relieved so that the pressure from said line may open the valve at that end of the chamber, thus allowing a rush of compressed combustible fluid to occur from line 32 to furtherimpel the piston on its way-to the end of the chamber nearest line 31. When this has been efi'ected the action of the compressed combustible fluid at the valves 5 and the ends of the chamber 2 is such as to set up a rapid reciprocation of the piston, there being escapes of compressed combustible fluid as the piston opens first one end and then the other end of the discharge port,

'Thereupon the switch 30 will be turned to allowignition of the compressed charges to take place as the piston approaches the sparking points.

The result is a high speed combustion in the nature of rapidly succeeding explosions that are regulated by the forces involved. I

It is understood that the principle of this compressed combustible fluid to one end of the chamber alone, or to both ends or by applying fluid explosive to one end only or to both ends andigniting the charges sucoessively.

If one end of the chamber is filled with an elastic medium such as air to form a cushion,

and compressed air is turned. into the other .end, the piston 6 driven by the admitted compressed airwill compress such cushion so that the pistonwill rebound and will be caused to oscillate between the admitted compressed air at one end of the chamber and the alr cushion at thejother end; and at compressed air will escape at the discharge port 3 and rapid reciprocation or oscillation of the piston results.

If compressed air is then turned on the other end totake the place of the initial air cushion the oscillation will continue indefinitely; the momentum of the piston serving to carry the piston across the discharge port far enough to allow a portion of the compressed air which impels the piston at either stroke to escape through the discharge port.

After the piston has been started to reciprocate by compressed explosive fluid and the electric switch 30 has been closed by the attendant and as the electrical conducting piston comes between the sparking points on opposite sides of the chamber the current jumpsfrom the sparking point on one side of the piston and from the piston to the sparking point on the other side thus exploding the charge of explosive fluid .at that end of the chamber and giving great velocity to the piston which then in like manner causes explosion of the charge at the other end of the chamber and so on.

The operation of the piston and valves and a rapid burning of the combustible fluid will continue thereafter so long as the same conditions prevail, and the expanding gases will blow out of the discharge port with great force and may be utilized as stated to drive liquid through an ejector or may be utilized in any other way found practical.

It is understood that if for any cause misfiring should occur at one end of the chamber the recoil of the unexploded chargewill return the piston to the other end of the chamber for explodin the charge at that end; so that stoppage o the firing will not result from such misfiring; and also that if the chamber becomes highly enough heated, firing from compression will take place so that further continuous operation may continue without electric firing.

'llhe chamber 2 is cooled externally by the water flowing through the passages 10, 11.

By thus producing sparks at both sides of the chamber ignition of the charge is facilitated and rapid firing is effected without any liability of missing. 3 v

The springs 7 are made of suflicient strength to resist a pressure approximating the fluid pressure under which the apparatus is to be 0 erated and such fluid pressure must be su cient to overcome the inertia of the piston and to drive said piston across the.

valve sprin should be suificiently strong to.

close its va ve uickly whenever the piston has cut ofi' the discharge from such valve and has thus equalized the pressure on opposite sides of the valve, and said spring should be sufiicie'ntly strong to hold the valve closed until the piston 6 opens the discharge port on the side thereof next such valve and when the inertia of the piston assists to further re-r lieve the resistance to opening the valve, so that said valve may pop open and a large volume of air will flow with a rush through the valve port and against the piston which may be just openingthe discharge port and yet in position to receive the rush of air. By some such operation the piston is driven to and fro so long as the compressed fluid is freely admitted to the valves at the ends of the piston chamber 2.

A stronger spring and a stronger air pressure is required for a heavy than for a light piston.

It is to be noted that in actual practice the reciprocations of the free piston element 6 are very rapid and of high velocity and that the heat to which said element is subjected is very great, and that in consequence, it becomes necessary to make said element of some very strong and durable material of high heat-resisting character. A free piston consisting of a block of cast steel may serve the purpose but in constructing the machine, durability, non-expansibility and high heatresisting qualities are necessary.

The sides of the chamber 2 converge'to form a sharp edge 38 to split the liquid that flows to supply the suction from the discharge through the port 3.

In Fig. 1, 39 designates the Pelton wheel; 40 the case therefor; 41 the return conduit for the discharge from the Pelton wheel.-

The lower end of the intake pipe 21 is shown submerged in the liquid 42 which practically forms an endless belt for driving the Pelton wheel by a stream of liquid from the noz- 219 43.

Lubrication of the piston and valves may be effected by introducing the lubricant into the air main by any suitable means as the oil cup 44.

The sparking points are of very simple construction each being the end of a single wire which is insulated by the plug 45 from.

the metal of the chamber.

I claim 1. An ejector comprising a body provided with a passage open at both ends, means within said passage to cause'explosive action, and means to direct the force of such explosive action toward one end of said passage to operate the ejector.

2. An ejector comprising a body provided with a passage open at both ends, means within said passage to cause successive explosions, and means to direct the force of the explosions toward one end of saidpassage to operate the ejector.

3. An ejector comprising a body provided with a passage open at both ends, a chamber extending across in the passage, said chamber being provided centrally with a port in the chamber to close and open the dis charge port, means to admit explosive medium to the ends of the chamber, and electrical means to ignite such medium at the ends of the chamber to drive said element.

5. In an ejector body having a passage open at both ends, a chamber provided centrally with a discharge port, a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the port, valves at the ends of the chamber, spring means to normally close the valves, and means to supply compressed expansive fluid to open the valves and move the piston.

6. In an ejector body having a passage open at both ends, a chamber provided centrally between its ends with a discharge port, spring-closed valves'at the ends of the chamber, sparking points between the valves and the discharge port, a free piston element moving in said chamber to close and open the discharge port and acting as an electrode to produce .sparks in connection with said sparking points, and means to supply compressed combustible fluid to the ends of the chamber.

7. In an ejector body having a passage open at both ends, a chamber provided centrally between its ends with a discharge port, valves at. the ends of the chamber, spring means to normally close the valves, sparking points between the valves and the discharge port, a free piston element moving in said chamber to close and open the discharge port and acting as an electrode to produce sparks in connection with said sparking points, and means to supply comp combustible fiuid to the ends of the chamber.

8. In an ejector body having a passage open at both ends, a chamber provided centrally with a discharge port between its ends and with inlet valves at its ends, supply chambers behind said valves, webs at the ends of said supply chambers, said webs being provided with bosses, valve stems for the valves, said stems extending through the webs and bosses, springs to retract the valve stems, means to supply compressed expansible fluid to the supply chambers, and a free piston element in the first mentioned chamber to close and open the discharge port.

9. An ejector body having a passage open at both ends, a chamber extending across in and centrally adischarge port from said chamber on the side thereof opposite said web, a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the discharge port, valves at the ends of the chamber, means to normally close the valves, and means to supply compressed expansible fluid to the chamber through said valves.

1 said chamber communicating with the open ends of said passage, a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the port, means to supply compressed expansible fluid to the endsof the chamber, and valves to close the ends of the chamber to allow said element to re-compress the fluid therein.

11. In an ejector body provided with a passage and having open pipe-receiving seats at the ends thereof, an inlet pipe in one of said seats, an outlet pipe in the other seat, a chamber extending across in the passage and provided centrally with a discharge port opening toward an open end of said passage, there being a passage-way on each side of said chamber communicating with the open ends of said passage, a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the port, means to supply compressed explosive fluid to the ends of the chamber, valves to close the ends of the chamber to allow said element to re-compress the fluid therein, and means to explode said re-compressed fluid.

12. In an ejector body provided with a passage and having open pipe-receiving seats at the ends thereof, an inlet pipe in one of said seats, an outlet pipe in the other seat, a chamber extending across in the passage and provided centrally with a' discharge port opening toward an open end ofsaid passage, there being a passage-way .beside said chamber communicating with the open ends of said passage, a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the port, means to supply-compressed expansible. fluid to the ends of the chamber,

and valves to close the ends of the chamber to allow said element to re-compress the fluid therein.

13. In an ejector body provided with a passage and having open pipe-receiving seats at the ends thereof, an inlet pipe in one of said seats, an outlet pipe in the other seat, a chamber extending across in the passage and provided centrally with a discharge port opening toward an open end of said passageythere being a passage-way beside said chamber communicating with the open ends of said passage, a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the port, means to supply compressed explosive fluid to the ends of the chamber, valves to close the ends of the -chamber to allow. said element to re-compress the fluid therein, and means to explode said re-compressed fluid.

14. An ejector body having a passage open atboth ends, a chamber extending across in the ejector passage and provided centrally. with a discharge port opening into the ejector passage, a source of compressed expansible fluid, pipes leading from said source to the opposite ends of said chamber respectively, valves to control said pipes respectively, spring-closed valves at the ends of-said chamber to admit compressed fluid from sa1d pipes to the ends of the chamber, and a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the discharge port.

15. An ejector body having a passage open at both ends, a chamber extending across 1n the ejector passage and provided centrally with a discharge port opening into the e ector passage, a source of compressed combustible fluid, pipes leading from said source to the opposlte ends of said chamber respectively, valves to control said pipes respectively, spring-closed valves at the ends of sa1d chamber to admit compressed fluid from said pipes to the ends of the chamber, a free piston element moving in the chamber to close and open the exhaust port, ignition means between the discharge port and the valves, and means to operate the ignition means when an end of the free piston recedes from the discharge port.

16. In an ejector body having a passage open at both ends for a liquid, a chamber provided centrally with a discharge port opening into said passage, spr. r-closed valves at the endsof the chamber, a free piston element moving in said chamber to close and open the discharge port, means to supply compressed explosive fluid to the ends ofthe chamber through said valves, and means to ignite said explosive fluid in the ends of said chamber in alternation to cause explosions against the ends of said element as such ends respectively recede from the discharge port.

17. The combination with a source of compressed explosive fluid, of two pipes leading therefrom, valves to control said pipes respectively, a gang of ejectors having passages with open ends and comprising chambers provided centrally with discharge ports opening into the passages of said e ectors, means to close and open said pipes respectively, valves to admit compressed explosive fluid from the pipes to the ends of sa1d chambers, and free piston elements 18. The combination with a source of compressed explosive fluid, of two pipes leading therefrom,- valves to control said. pipes 2 respectively, an e ector body having a passage open at both ends, a chamber, rovided a discharge port opening into.

centrally with said ejector body, means to close and open said pipes respectively, valves to admit com pressed explosive fluid from the pipes to the ends of said chamber, and a free piston element moving in said chamber to closeand open the discharge port. i

19. In an ejector body provided with a passage open at both ends, the combination with a chamber having centrally a discharge port, of means to induct an explosive charge to said chamber, means to ignite the charge, and an element movable relative to said chamber under the force of such explosion to open and close the discharge port.

20. A power apparatus comprising a body provided with a passage open at both ends, a chamber extending across in said passage and having centrally a discharge port between its ends and inlets at its ends; a free piston movable in the chamber across the discharge port; means to compress explosive charges against the ends of the piston; and means to explode said charges against the ends of said piston alternately.

21. In an ejector body provided with a passage open at both ends, a chamber extending across in said passage and having centrally a discharge port; means to cause explosions in the chamber; and means to supply liquid to be acted on by the expanded gases of the explosions as the same pass from the discharge port.

22. A power apparatus comprising a gang of ejector devices provided with passages open at both ends, internal combustion units for such devices respectively and extending across in said passages, a source of fluid fuel supply under compression connected with said units, and a nozzle connected with said ejector devices.

23. The combination with a gang of ejector devices provided with passages open at both ends; of internal combustion units extending across in said passage, one for each of said devices, means connecting said units with a source of explosive fluid; means to explode said fluid in said units; and means to supply liquid in series to the ejector devices.

24. In an ejector body provided with a passage open at both ends, the combination with a chamber extending across in said passage and having centrally a discharge port; of sparking points arranged on opposite sides of the chamber; means to supply exconstituting an, electrode a to coiiperate with the sparking points to produce sparks; said pistonhavinga central, solid portion to close the discharge port.

2 5. In an ejector body provided with a passage open at both -ends, a chamber ,ex-

tending across in said passage and having centrally a discharge 'portbetween its ends, means to supply explosive fluid to the ends of said chamber;-a"free piston moving in sald chamber to close and open said port;

; single sparking pointsv oppositely arranged on opposite sides of the chamber at the ends of said chamber; and a free piston forming an electrode to cooperate with the sparking points to ignite the fluid charges on both sides of the piston at each end thereof.

26. In an ejector body provided with a passage open at both ends, a combination with a chamber extending across in said passage and having valve ports at its ends and an intermediate discharge; of valves for said ports; valve stems for said valves; inlet chambers for said ports, there being webs at the ends of the inlet chambers that serve as guides for said valve stems; nuts on said stems; and springs engaging said webs and nuts to normally hold the valves closed.

27. In an ejector body provided with a passage open at both ends, a chamber extending across in said passage and having centrally a discharge port; means to supply a compressed charge of combustible fluid to the .chamber; means to ignite the combustible charge to cause an explosion in the chamber; means directly operated by the force of the explosion in the chamber to open and close the discharge port, and means actuated by the force of the explosion to close the inlet to the chamber.

28. In an ejector body provided with a passage open at both ends, a single chamber extending across in said passage and being provided with a discharge port located intermediate its ends; a floating valve or free piston in the chamber to reciprocate across said discharge port to close and open the same, the ends of said chamber being constructed as firing chambers; means to introduce combustible fluid into said ends and means operating in conjunction with the piston to ignite said charges in the firing chambers alternately.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 2d day of October, 1913.

' CHARLES H. FOX.

In presence of JAMES R. TOWNSEND, L. BELLE WEAVER.

Correctien in Letters Patent No 1,217,861.

It is hereby certified that iii Letters Patent No, 1,21':I,8 61, granted February 27, 1917, upon the application of Charles Fox, of Bakersfield; California, for en improvement in Internal-Combustion Fewer Apparatus, en errorappeers in the printed specification requiring Correction as follows 1: Page 3, line 5 5, fer the reference-numeral 3 read 4; and that the seid Letters Patent sheuld be read with this correction therein that the samemej eenform to the reeerd oi the wise in the Patent Office. V i I Signed and sealed this 3d day of April, A. 12., 71917.

F. W. H. CLAY, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] O1. e04. v 

